Wind blows Liu’s world record hopes

06/02/2012 6:43pm ESTShare

Liu Xiang (C) of China leads David Oliver (L) and Jason Richardson of the United States over the last hurdle in the men’s 110m hurdles at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League track meet in Eugene, Oregon June 2, 2012. (REUTERS/Steve Dipaola)

By Gene Cherry

EUGENE, Oregon, June 2 (Reuters) – Liu Xiang sent an ominous warning to his main London Olympic rival when a wind gust denied him a share of the 110 meters hurdles world record at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meeting on Saturday.

The 2004 Athens Olympic gold medalist stormed home in 12.87 seconds in an eye-popping run that matched Cuban Dayron Robles’ mark, set in 2008.

But his performance did not count as a joint record because he was assisted by winds measuring 2.4 meters per second, just above the allowable limit of 2.0.

Robles had been scheduled to run in the same race, but missed the meeting because of visa problems, and Liu said he was not getting carried away with his time.

“Of course I am happy but it is just a race for me. I need to look forward,” Liu said.

“I think my start was good, but I think I made some mistakes from the third to the sixth hurdles. Maybe the wind pushed me so much.”

The time came hot on the heels of his season-leading run of 12.97 in May, his fastest non winded assisted performance in five years as he continues his comeback from a heart-breaking 2008 leg injury that caused him to withdraw from the Beijing Olympics.

Liu’s fastest official time remains 12.88, set in 2006, and which stood as the world record for two years.

U.S. world indoor champion Aries Merritt finished second on Saturday in 12.96 with world outdoor champion Jason Richardson third in 13.11.

FARAH IMPRESSES

British world champion Mo Farah also impressed, winning the men’s 5,000m in 12 minutes 56.98 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year.

Ethiopian world record holder Kenenisa Bekele, still rounding into shape from a calf injury, was fourth in a season best 13:01.48.

Six other 2012 best performances were set at the meeting, conducted at the same site for the U.S. Olympic trials, starting in three weeks.

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